Full Breakdown
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Bollywood Interlude at the 2026 BRICS Summit
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Impromptu Kishore Kumar Performance
During the gala dinner of the 18th BRICS Summit at the Bharat Mandapam complex in New Delhi, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim rose from his seat, asked “Teacher, may I have permission to sing for a moment, okay?” ** from the film *Teen Devian*. A pianist supplied the accompaniment while other delegates listened. Anwar posted the clip on his X account on September 12, 2026 and later shared it on Instagram, where it quickly amassed more than one million views.
Background & Context: A Pattern of Musical Diplomacy
Anwar’s affection for Indian cinema predates the BRICS gathering. In 2024, while attending a farewell event at Delhi’s Taj Mahal Hotel, he sang Mukesh’s “Dost Dost Na Raha” from *Sangam*. He has repeatedly cited his admiration for legends such as Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar in interviews, describing the experience as “coming from the heart” despite not speaking Hindi.
Timeline
- September 11, 2026 – Anwar arrives in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit.
- September 12, 2026 – Gala dinner; Anwar performs the Kishore Kumar song and posts a short video on X.
- September 13, 2026 – He shares the footage on Instagram; media report the video has exceeded one million views.
Data & Statistics
- Viewership: The Instagram video recorded over 1 million views, according to News18.
- Social-media reach: The X post generated thousands of likes and comments within hours, prompting widespread sharing across Indian and Malaysian platforms.
Official Statements & Responses
Anwar used the informal moment to comment on his Indian counterpart’s popularity:
> “See, Prime Minister Modi is so popular; I got so many messages to pass on regards to him,” — Anwar Ibrahim
On-the-Ground Reports
Both Salian and Natasha were present at the International Media Centre in Bharat Mandapam when the video was recorded.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise venue of the recording. News18 and several Indian outlets describe the performance as occurring during the gala dinner, while the *Telegraph India* and *The Print* suggest the video was captured in a luxury hotel room, citing a colleague wearing a BRICS badge as visual evidence. No official statement has clarified the exact setting.
Verbatim Quotes
- “See, Prime Minister Modi is so popular; I got so many messages to pass on regards to him,” — Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian prime minister
- “Our PM attended the summit, but what he did shows that he also found an opportunity to have a fun moment too” — Yasmin Natasha, Malaysian journalist
- “Teacher, may I have permission to sing for a moment, okay?” — Malay
- “Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim may have been in New Delhi for high-level diplomacy, but his rendition of Kishore Kumar’s classic ‘Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat' struck a different chord, drawing positive reactions from many Indians,” — Malay Mail
---
The episode underscores how Bollywood melodies can serve as an unofficial diplomatic language, offering a humanizing counterpoint to the high-stakes discussions on global governance, trade and sustainable development that dominated the BRICS summit agenda.